I'd like to ask about any upcoming events or classes about astronomy, are there any in the works? I think i'd like to involve one or more of my sons as well. I have yet to purchase a telescope, defferring for education first as there seems to be a lot to learn. Celestial navigation looks as difficult as trying to hit the pick six at Oaklawn.

Hello! While it does take practice, after a couple of years finding constellations and using a telescope, you're sure to find it as pleasurable a thing as hitting on every race, every time because the sky is NOT hard to learn and telescopes are NOT hard to use! With the proper help it can be quite an exhilarating experience.

We don't have any classes scheduled at this time, but yours is not the first request. We are considering classes here at Coleman Observatory this summer, but it's very early in the planning. When we do offer something, I ALWAYS put a story about it on the site, so check in often.

Our next scheduled events are the Messier Marathon for our members and anyone interested in working on their Messier Certification on Saturday, March 20th. The following weekend on Friday, March 26th, (with the 27th as a rain/cloud date) we'll be holding a Public Night at Carol Ann Cross Park in Ft Smith, on 74th street about a mile north of St Edwards at Rogers.

Consider joining the club! Or, if you choose to learn about astronomy on your own, let us advise you on some widely available and helpful books. One of the best places to start is either Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazines. If you'd like a half-price coupon for your first year's subscription to Astronomy, click on my name where it's highlighted in blue anywhere on this site and send me an email asking for a starters booklet from Astronomy magazine with two coupons for half-price subscriptions in the center. The booklet is FREE and we'll send it wherever you ask.

In fact, anyone else who reads this thread can ask for a FREE booklet the same way.

Hello! I don't bet on horses much, but learning the basics of Astronomy is not that hard. I like your idea about waiting to buy a scope. My first scope was a bad choice, but I love my current scope. If you come to a public star party we will be glad to show you our telescopes and how they work. Several club members have scopes with designs that would be good for a beginner. I also want to recommend the book Nigh*censored*ch by Terence Dickinson. I got my copy at Books-A-Million. It is very easy to understand and it has good, practical advise. It also helps you start to learn in your backyard with a pair of binoculars. It has the easiest to read star charts that I have ever seen. I would be lost without it. (and no, I don't get a commission from the author!) I hope that you can come to one of our public events or club meetings.

Another resource which may be of interest is a new magazine named NIGHT SKY; it is from the publishers of Sky & Telescope and premieres in April.

"Night Sky is designed for entry-level stargazers who want to enjoy and explore the heavens, along with anyone who just bought a telescope (or received one as a gift) and is thinking, "Now what?" In addition to providing clear, well-illustrated guides for observing major events like eclipses and meteor showers, Night Sky will offer its readers easy-to-use star charts, a complete calendar of celestial happenings, a how-to section for telescope owners, basic science and hobby information, product overviews (telescopes and accessories, books, software), and a gallery of stunning photographs taken by amateur astronomers around the world."

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Become a card-carrying member of AOAS. Paying dues gives you several advantages over other registered users, including a subscription to the club newsletter, an AOAS.ORG e-mail address, use of club materials, including books and telescopes, and access to the Coleman Observatory facilities. On top of all that, you also qualify for a 20% discount on all books at any Books-A-Million location.